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WSF Monday Matters
Boat moves and the Service Contingency Plan
The Suquamish suffered a significant main engine casualty while operating on the Mukilteo/Clinton route yesterday causing the vessel to go out of service in the afternoon leaving one
vessel in place to support the route. Unfortunately, this disruption occurred as many travelers were returning from one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in the Pacific Northwest,
the 42nd Annual Oyster Run <https://oysterrun.org/> .
Following our Service Contingency Plan <https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/WSF-Service-Contingency-Plan-2025.pdf> , which outlines how WSF will maintain service and respond
to unplanned disruptions until new vessels are delivered, several boat-moves have or will be occurring today.
The Kitsap moved to Mukilteo/Clinton to restore two-boat service on the busiest vehicle route in the system.
The Sealth moved from the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route and replaced the Kitsap, which was in place for the 11:10 a.m. Seattle to Bremerton sailing.
The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route will be running on the two-boat schedule with the Kittitas and the Issaquah. However, the Salish will move from Port Townsend-Coupeville to the
Triangle route as a bonus boat as early as tomorrow. This will end two-boat service on the Port Townsend/Coupeville route until May 2026.
The Suquamish has moved to Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility to begin main engine repairs. The vessel is expected to be out of service for the next few weeks.
Completed Sailings
For the week of Sept. 22-Sept. 28 –We completed 99.2% of our 3,113 scheduled sailings. Of the 25 cancellations, 80% (20) were due to vessel-related issues, 16% (4) were due to schedule
resets (when a boat is so far behind schedule, we cancel a sailing to get it back on schedule, providing predictability for customers), and 4% (1) was due to other miscellaneous reasons.
For comparison, during a similar period last year (September 23 – September 29, 2024), we completed 98.5% of our 2,797 scheduled sailings. Of the 47 cancellations that week, 34% (16)
were due to vessel-related issues, 30% (14) were due to schedule resets, 17% (8) were due to weather, 17% (8) were due to other miscellaneous reasons, and 2% (1) was due to an emergency.
Customer Service Alerts
For the week of Sept. 22 – Sept 28 - our customer service team sent 106 rider alerts, received 2,537 customer calls, and fielded more than 190 written comments and emails related to
reservations, schedules, and fares.
WSF Weekly Media Highlights
Mariners guarantee first-round bye as ALDS tickets sell out in minutes <https://www.king5.com/video/sports/mlb/mariners/mariners-guarantee-first-round-bye-as-alds-tickets-sell-out-in-minutes/281-bbd2
221d-8023-4e38-a315-e77ce330bee2> KING 5
WSF plans fix for bottleneck at dock <https://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/news/wsf-plans-fix-for-bottleneck-at-dock/> Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
Vessel Availability
We fully implemented our 18-vessel service this summer, allowing us to return to almost full domestic service – three years earlier than originally planned.
Our summer season ended Saturday, Sept. 20, and we carried 500,000 more riders than last summer, making it the busiest summer in several years.
Numbers show we’re moving in the right direction. We completed 98.4% of our 43,179 scheduled sailings. That’s an increase from 97.2% last year and we had nearly 4,000 more trips this
summer.
Canceled sailing dropped from 1,174 to 755. We also improved our on-time performance <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwsdot.wa.gov%2Ftravel%2Fwashington-state-ferries%2Fabout-us%2Ffer
ries-accountability-and-service-data%2Ftime-performance-reports/1/0100019983006f9d-52ba328d-ddf5-41f8-bdee-dfab3f1e7ae8-000000/_oduYkBAwk6X4fsWA5MA-W6lNzKcN7Ovi5pP5tLRzs8=424> , or percentage
of trip departing within 10 minutes of their scheduled departure time. Systemwide, we went from 71.6% in summer 2024 to 76.7% in 2025
Hybrid Conversions/New Vessels/Terminal Electrification
New Vessels – Governor Bob Ferguson selected the $714.5 million bid from Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries. We will move
forward with the contracting process, following the first competitive bid for ferry construction in more than 25 years.
Terminal Electrification – Vessel charging system proposals have been reviewed and an award announcement is expected soon.
WSF Community Engagement and Government Relations
NTR